Will the Savior come through for San Jose, or do we start talking contract figures tomorrow morning?
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Joined in Progress
Will the Savior come through for San Jose, or do we start talking contract figures tomorrow morning?
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Mission Statement
by Ryan
[via Awful Announcing]
The above video is the prerequisite to what you will see here. Unless you were like me and ignored hockey for 90 minutes to watch HBO, please take the few minutes to watch an old man complain about change.
Good? Okay.
Now, I've always liked Buzz Bissinger's work. He is a respected author and Pulitzer Prize winner. Bissinger wrote one of my favorite sports books, and what he did with Friday Night Lights was the first thing I'd read that made me want to be a writer. Buzz Bissinger made me fall in love with "New Journalism", and he should be given credit for that at every turn.
I have to admit, having those feelings disintegrate in the matter of a few minutes really was something special.
The strange thing is that I'm not mad at Buzz Bissinger. I'm sad, really. How could someone so talented, so celebrated, not see the forest for the trees? Buzz went on national television in the hopes of defending his medium and ended up exploding to the point where his arguments were refuted by his own actions.
He criticized bloggers for being negative and vulgar while insulting Will Leitch's intelligence and saying words that only HBO can air before 11PM. He was arrogant and angry, bullying everyone else off the stage like a teacher embarrassed by a student's correction. His intent was to appear strong and stoic, but in the end he looked quite sad and helpless, exhausted by the effort.
As I was watching Will Leitch get railroaded on live television, I couldn't help but get depressed by the spectacle. Is this how others view blogs? A vulgar wild west of nonsense and deception? Is that what this site is about? Taking shots at others and giving wild opinions not worthy of the server space?
After sleeping on it and putting on a pair of pants (a respectable pair I could even wear outside of my mother's house...) my conclusion was a resounding no. The truth is that Buzz Bissinger does not and will not ever understand what sports blogging is all about, and I'm okay with that.
In a medium "built for speed", sports blogs are still infants. This very site is just under a year old, and while the growth we've seen in that time is drastic, compared to others we have barely taken the protective film off the shiny new toy that is a blog.
Blog. You could tell he didn't understand just by the way he said it: "Blag." He and Costas, as well as the millions of people that just don't "get it" all say it with that long "a." It is very much like the way people above 30 say "cool." Sure, they understand what it means, but when you really mean it you add a little "u" in between the "oo"s to show that you really "get it." Blogging is that new "cool", and if you don't know how to say it now, good luck understanding when it catches its stride.
It is interesting to note Bissinger's Pulitzer Prize win in 1987, as the very award is an example of the evolution of the medium. Joseph Pulitzer, the award's namesake, was one of the founders of Yellow Journalism, the sensationalist foundation of large-circulation newspapers. Yes, the greatest prize in his field is named after scandalous and "not quite libel" writing.
The origins of newspapers are questionable and at times downright pathetic, but out of that history of deceit came something wonderful. Newspapers brought literacy to the masses, as well as a new understanding of news in our nation. How many boys fell in love with the game of baseball through box scores and the words of those reporting from the press box? Over time newspapers evolved and matured, giving us the best that journalism had to offer. Who is to say that the same thing won't happen with blogs?
Last year when we started this site I had no real knowledge of sports blogs. Since then I've spent hours and hours looking at the work of others, and I feel like a better fan for it. Their words are not gospel, their prose is not revolutionary, and sometimes grammar is incorrect; but what they have to say has affected me and how I watch sports, and absolutely for the better. I have never loved sports as much, and I have never had as much fun as a fan.
Something good will come out of this, I can promise you all that. For every negative, unreadable blog created in six seconds there is a solid, insightful one that is worked on for weeks and months and years. It is ironic that what Bissinger read last night as "disgusting" was one of the best justifications for sports blogs that I have ever read. Guys like Big Daddy Drew and Ken Tremendous have become some of my favorite writers not because they are outstanding journalists but because they are hilarious and can deliver a good point every once in a while.
Perhaps this is a degradation in standards or the dumbing down of society, but I don't see anything wrong with wanting an alternative. I still read books, I know who Ralph Ellison is, and I could probably make you dinner out of a cook book if you asked nicely. However, I feel strongly that what you are reading right now is the future. It isn't the end of newspapers, it's not a virtual Bay of Pigs invasion, this is something new and fresh, and we're going to see it through to the end.
Something good will come out of this, and I can't wait to be a part of it.
[via Awful Announcing]
The above video is the prerequisite to what you will see here. Unless you were like me and ignored hockey for 90 minutes to watch HBO, please take the few minutes to watch an old man complain about change.
Good? Okay.
Now, I've always liked Buzz Bissinger's work. He is a respected author and Pulitzer Prize winner. Bissinger wrote one of my favorite sports books, and what he did with Friday Night Lights was the first thing I'd read that made me want to be a writer. Buzz Bissinger made me fall in love with "New Journalism", and he should be given credit for that at every turn.
I have to admit, having those feelings disintegrate in the matter of a few minutes really was something special.
The strange thing is that I'm not mad at Buzz Bissinger. I'm sad, really. How could someone so talented, so celebrated, not see the forest for the trees? Buzz went on national television in the hopes of defending his medium and ended up exploding to the point where his arguments were refuted by his own actions.
He criticized bloggers for being negative and vulgar while insulting Will Leitch's intelligence and saying words that only HBO can air before 11PM. He was arrogant and angry, bullying everyone else off the stage like a teacher embarrassed by a student's correction. His intent was to appear strong and stoic, but in the end he looked quite sad and helpless, exhausted by the effort.
As I was watching Will Leitch get railroaded on live television, I couldn't help but get depressed by the spectacle. Is this how others view blogs? A vulgar wild west of nonsense and deception? Is that what this site is about? Taking shots at others and giving wild opinions not worthy of the server space?
After sleeping on it and putting on a pair of pants (a respectable pair I could even wear outside of my mother's house...) my conclusion was a resounding no. The truth is that Buzz Bissinger does not and will not ever understand what sports blogging is all about, and I'm okay with that.
In a medium "built for speed", sports blogs are still infants. This very site is just under a year old, and while the growth we've seen in that time is drastic, compared to others we have barely taken the protective film off the shiny new toy that is a blog.
Blog. You could tell he didn't understand just by the way he said it: "Blag." He and Costas, as well as the millions of people that just don't "get it" all say it with that long "a." It is very much like the way people above 30 say "cool." Sure, they understand what it means, but when you really mean it you add a little "u" in between the "oo"s to show that you really "get it." Blogging is that new "cool", and if you don't know how to say it now, good luck understanding when it catches its stride.
It is interesting to note Bissinger's Pulitzer Prize win in 1987, as the very award is an example of the evolution of the medium. Joseph Pulitzer, the award's namesake, was one of the founders of Yellow Journalism, the sensationalist foundation of large-circulation newspapers. Yes, the greatest prize in his field is named after scandalous and "not quite libel" writing.
The origins of newspapers are questionable and at times downright pathetic, but out of that history of deceit came something wonderful. Newspapers brought literacy to the masses, as well as a new understanding of news in our nation. How many boys fell in love with the game of baseball through box scores and the words of those reporting from the press box? Over time newspapers evolved and matured, giving us the best that journalism had to offer. Who is to say that the same thing won't happen with blogs?
Last year when we started this site I had no real knowledge of sports blogs. Since then I've spent hours and hours looking at the work of others, and I feel like a better fan for it. Their words are not gospel, their prose is not revolutionary, and sometimes grammar is incorrect; but what they have to say has affected me and how I watch sports, and absolutely for the better. I have never loved sports as much, and I have never had as much fun as a fan.
Something good will come out of this, I can promise you all that. For every negative, unreadable blog created in six seconds there is a solid, insightful one that is worked on for weeks and months and years. It is ironic that what Bissinger read last night as "disgusting" was one of the best justifications for sports blogs that I have ever read. Guys like Big Daddy Drew and Ken Tremendous have become some of my favorite writers not because they are outstanding journalists but because they are hilarious and can deliver a good point every once in a while.
Perhaps this is a degradation in standards or the dumbing down of society, but I don't see anything wrong with wanting an alternative. I still read books, I know who Ralph Ellison is, and I could probably make you dinner out of a cook book if you asked nicely. However, I feel strongly that what you are reading right now is the future. It isn't the end of newspapers, it's not a virtual Bay of Pigs invasion, this is something new and fresh, and we're going to see it through to the end.
Something good will come out of this, and I can't wait to be a part of it.
Cash Grab
by Ryan
Rich is going to wrangle a computer and talk about the draft this week, but in the mean time I thought I'd address something that popped up in the Canadian press this afternoon. To put it plainly, the Bills done got paid:
Wow. I know we've been throwing numbers around here and there, but when you see the real figures pop up you can't help but understand the decision.
The fact of the matter is the Bills will never see these kind of numbers from Western New York, even though they get all the revenues made at Ralph Wilson. Even with the Winter Classic, it's nothing near making almost $10 million for one game. (I would have the exact numbers on the Winter Classic revenues here if the Buffalo News didn't clear their archives after 11 seconds...)
You can take the news two ways: 1) Shrug your shoulders and hope it's for the best, or 2) Make an awful photoshop and scour the series of tubes for a photo of Canadian Monopoly.
Guess who took the high road?
Rich is going to wrangle a computer and talk about the draft this week, but in the mean time I thought I'd address something that popped up in the Canadian press this afternoon. To put it plainly, the Bills done got paid:
The $78-million payment eclipses what Forbes calculated the Bills made in 2006, in the magazine's latest annual financial breakdown of NFL franchises. Forbes calculated the Bills had an operating income of US$31.2 million after bringing in $176 million in revenues that year.
Broken down, the Bills will make nearly $9.75 million per game in Toronto, something they'd be unable to make at Orchard Park, where the small-market team has perennially had the lowest ticket prices in the NFL. The Bills' average ticket price for this season is about $51 at Ralph Wilson Stadium, which has a 72,000 seating capacity.
Wow. I know we've been throwing numbers around here and there, but when you see the real figures pop up you can't help but understand the decision.
The fact of the matter is the Bills will never see these kind of numbers from Western New York, even though they get all the revenues made at Ralph Wilson. Even with the Winter Classic, it's nothing near making almost $10 million for one game. (I would have the exact numbers on the Winter Classic revenues here if the Buffalo News didn't clear their archives after 11 seconds...)
You can take the news two ways: 1) Shrug your shoulders and hope it's for the best, or 2) Make an awful photoshop and scour the series of tubes for a photo of Canadian Monopoly.
Guess who took the high road?
I'm Almost Positive...
...this was taken just after the referee behind the net told Jagr to "go f--k yourself." I bet if the guy would shave properly he would be given a proper forum. Freaking hippie.
Monday, April 28, 2008
They Must Have Team Speedos
Not pictured: The sniper that took Umberger down just after Hatcher was called for boarding. Good Lord he went down like an sack of unloved puppies being tossed into the gorge. Then again, I've never been so gently clipped while playing hockey, so writhing on the ground like an electrocuted mongoose may be the proper reaction there.
Thank goodness he was able to return, I wasn't sure if he had broken a purse strap when he was rolling around down there.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
The Weekend in Pictures...
by Ryan
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, watched over by the teacher from Pink Floyd's The Wall.
Severance Hall, where The Cleveland Orchestra preformed an excellent version of Bela Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra.
The Jake, which I will call nothing else unless I'm allowed to call it "The Prog", even if that makes it sound like Yes should be playing there...
Hrm... that last one sounds like something I could talk about here. Perhaps... that shows up sometime tomorrow? Sounds good to me.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, watched over by the teacher from Pink Floyd's The Wall.
Severance Hall, where The Cleveland Orchestra preformed an excellent version of Bela Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra.
The Jake, which I will call nothing else unless I'm allowed to call it "The Prog", even if that makes it sound like Yes should be playing there...
Hrm... that last one sounds like something I could talk about here. Perhaps... that shows up sometime tomorrow? Sounds good to me.
Way Back When
by Ryan
Hey, you remember when we picked up that quarterback on the second day of the draft that was supposed to be a big deal but kind of wasn't? People get excited about things like that, right? Well... as a Bills fan I'd say that deal was pretty nice to the team who got rid of the quarterback. So... I don't mean to be rude or anything, but...
Make it happen, General Manager Triumvirate.
Hey, you remember when we picked up that quarterback on the second day of the draft that was supposed to be a big deal but kind of wasn't? People get excited about things like that, right? Well... as a Bills fan I'd say that deal was pretty nice to the team who got rid of the quarterback. So... I don't mean to be rude or anything, but...
Make it happen, General Manager Triumvirate.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
The HNIC That I Won't See
Hopefully the Flyers won't get to do the gayest interpretive dance I've ever seen tonight.
Dear Sabres Managment,
This is how you run a "white out."
It usually helps when you try it on years where the majority of the fan base doesn't buy $200 jerseys. Putting a $2 shirt over that is a tough sell, eh? Although at this point, I think I'd buy anything Sidney Crosby is selling...
Jesus, even the dude with the tie did it right. Plus it makes it easier to pick out the Ranger fans. Speaking of Rangers fans... I was walking around a mall today and saw someone with an old Rangers third jersey. (The one with the Liberty Head on the front...) It was, of all things, a Matthew Barnaby jersey. As I walked past him I said, "Pens in 6."
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Hey, at least we're not this AFC East team. That guy crying in disbelief when he says "Quarterback" is classic...
On The Clock
by Rich
Sometime after 3:00 this afternoon, Jake Long will officially sign with Your 2008 Miami Dolphins (Now with 100% less Zach Thomas!). Once that little formality is out of the way, the show will really start. As the first round takes shape, you see hints of what sort of animal this particular draft is going to be. The guys in the green room rock absurd suits, Mel Kiper talks very loudly about his hair, and Jets fans boo (see above). We all enjoy a little schadenfreude as the cameras repeatedly cut to the guy who is unexpectedly free-falling through the first round sitting there uncomfortably, as though visualizing the millions of dollars he's losing each pick as an actual pile of cash that has been set on fire. And of course, we wonder: what are the Bills going to do at 11?
That, my friends, is the question. To be honest, I really don't know. We all know what the Bills need: a big target for Trent in the form of a receiver or a tight end. This is not new information; it is simply common sense. Corner and defensive end are the two other primary positions of need, and neither one would surprise me a whole lot in the first round, but I'll get to that later. Adding Marcus Stroud earlier this off-season solidified the interior of the defensive line, which is nice because it kept DT from being on this list too.
"Okay," you say. ""So what are the Bills going to do about these needs?" Well...I still have no idea. Actually, that's not true. I have many ideas, it's just that I have no idea if they're anywhere close to what's actually going to happen. Buffalo's in an awkward place at #11, pretty much because we need a wide receiver and there isn't one who is worth picking there. For a while the prevailing idea seemed to be taking Oklahoma's Malcolm Kelly, but then he had a disastrous pro day where he ran a 7.92 forty-yard dash and made disparaging remarks about Jewish people. (Note: This may or may not have actually happened) Some people have mentioned Devin Thomas out of Michigan State, but I hope not. Something about this guy says "first round bust" to me. He's a one-year wonder who also isn't quite big enough (in my mind, at least) to fill the "big receiver" role that he would need to. The front office seems to be lukewarm on Longhorn product Limas Sweed, who is evidently slipping on some boards.
Keeping in mind that there don't appear to be any wideouts worthy of the 11th pick in the draft, what are the Bills going to do? Well, there are a couple of options:
So there it is; the Bills have a few options, and each one seems just about as likely as the next. The only other advice I can give you is to relax and enjoy. The pace of the draft has gone from glacial to sloth-like this year, thanks to the shortening of each pick's time slot from 15 to 10 minutes (and if that's still too slow, here's a little something to keep you occupied). As for me, I'll be heading to the beach in the morning to celebrate the end of the semester with too much domestic beer and not enough sunscreen. I figure by the time the 11th pick rolls around I will have found my way home so that I may properly react to the pick with either "Wow, nice! Today just keeps getting better and better!" or "Ugh. Really? Well, at least I've been drinking all day."
...I hope it's not the latter.
Sometime after 3:00 this afternoon, Jake Long will officially sign with Your 2008 Miami Dolphins (Now with 100% less Zach Thomas!). Once that little formality is out of the way, the show will really start. As the first round takes shape, you see hints of what sort of animal this particular draft is going to be. The guys in the green room rock absurd suits, Mel Kiper talks very loudly about his hair, and Jets fans boo (see above). We all enjoy a little schadenfreude as the cameras repeatedly cut to the guy who is unexpectedly free-falling through the first round sitting there uncomfortably, as though visualizing the millions of dollars he's losing each pick as an actual pile of cash that has been set on fire. And of course, we wonder: what are the Bills going to do at 11?
That, my friends, is the question. To be honest, I really don't know. We all know what the Bills need: a big target for Trent in the form of a receiver or a tight end. This is not new information; it is simply common sense. Corner and defensive end are the two other primary positions of need, and neither one would surprise me a whole lot in the first round, but I'll get to that later. Adding Marcus Stroud earlier this off-season solidified the interior of the defensive line, which is nice because it kept DT from being on this list too.
"Okay," you say. ""So what are the Bills going to do about these needs?" Well...I still have no idea. Actually, that's not true. I have many ideas, it's just that I have no idea if they're anywhere close to what's actually going to happen. Buffalo's in an awkward place at #11, pretty much because we need a wide receiver and there isn't one who is worth picking there. For a while the prevailing idea seemed to be taking Oklahoma's Malcolm Kelly, but then he had a disastrous pro day where he ran a 7.92 forty-yard dash and made disparaging remarks about Jewish people. (Note: This may or may not have actually happened) Some people have mentioned Devin Thomas out of Michigan State, but I hope not. Something about this guy says "first round bust" to me. He's a one-year wonder who also isn't quite big enough (in my mind, at least) to fill the "big receiver" role that he would need to. The front office seems to be lukewarm on Longhorn product Limas Sweed, who is evidently slipping on some boards.
Keeping in mind that there don't appear to be any wideouts worthy of the 11th pick in the draft, what are the Bills going to do? Well, there are a couple of options:
- Take the highest-rated WR on the board at 11.
- Take a CB or DE at 11.
- Trade down.
So there it is; the Bills have a few options, and each one seems just about as likely as the next. The only other advice I can give you is to relax and enjoy. The pace of the draft has gone from glacial to sloth-like this year, thanks to the shortening of each pick's time slot from 15 to 10 minutes (and if that's still too slow, here's a little something to keep you occupied). As for me, I'll be heading to the beach in the morning to celebrate the end of the semester with too much domestic beer and not enough sunscreen. I figure by the time the 11th pick rolls around I will have found my way home so that I may properly react to the pick with either "Wow, nice! Today just keeps getting better and better!" or "Ugh. Really? Well, at least I've been drinking all day."
...I hope it's not the latter.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Dropping the Ball
by Ryan
The NFL Draft is today, and everyone here in the Roost is excited about it. However, two of us are going to be in Cleveland this weekend taking in some baseball, completely missing this year's draft. Also, the usual infatuation I have with the football off season has been diminished because I've been watching hockey religiously over the past... eight months. So... with the Roost a bit empty today I thought I'd give a few places to go to get some information on the draft:
Buffalo Rumblings is a fantastic Bills site. We've been big fans since we started blogging here and they have done a great job with the off season and free agency. I expect that to continue for the Draft, and they have a nice new layout just in time for today's events.
Kissing Suzy Kolber is also supposed to have a live blog for the day, and they always have something hilarious to say. A national perspective not from Chris Berman is always good for some balance.
WNY Water Cooler has been talking Bills football all month, and are worth a look as well.
Bills Dominate has been doing mock drafts all week, so take a look at those for sure.
We will have some posts this weekend for sureI have posts in draft for the entire weekend because I never sleep, but if anything crazy happens... be sure to text us.
Also, just because we are going there for baseball doesn't mean we forget how the Bills playoff hopes ended.
Screw you Cleveland. "Lake Effect Snow"? What the hell is that?
The NFL Draft is today, and everyone here in the Roost is excited about it. However, two of us are going to be in Cleveland this weekend taking in some baseball, completely missing this year's draft. Also, the usual infatuation I have with the football off season has been diminished because I've been watching hockey religiously over the past... eight months. So... with the Roost a bit empty today I thought I'd give a few places to go to get some information on the draft:
Buffalo Rumblings is a fantastic Bills site. We've been big fans since we started blogging here and they have done a great job with the off season and free agency. I expect that to continue for the Draft, and they have a nice new layout just in time for today's events.
Kissing Suzy Kolber is also supposed to have a live blog for the day, and they always have something hilarious to say. A national perspective not from Chris Berman is always good for some balance.
WNY Water Cooler has been talking Bills football all month, and are worth a look as well.
Bills Dominate has been doing mock drafts all week, so take a look at those for sure.
Also, just because we are going there for baseball doesn't mean we forget how the Bills playoff hopes ended.
Screw you Cleveland. "Lake Effect Snow"? What the hell is that?
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Well That Looks Safe...
by Ryan
After seeing a photo like this you are left with a lot of questions. First of all, what are Habs fans doing talking to that guy when there are plenty of perfectly good cars to set on fire?
Like this one. All it takes is a lighter and the convenient towel you were given at the gate and you can turn that automobile into a symbol of your domination. Yes, show the world that the Montreal Canadiens are one game closer to winning the second of four best-of-seven series. 5/16 of a championship makes me want to break stuff, too.
Still, the larger question still looms: What's up with Lady Lafleur over there on the left? Let's look at that photo again:
What secret identity is she hiding with that mask, and why is there yarn dangling from her neck? Was she knitting a sweater in case the faithful destroyed the power plant, because I thought the police car bonfires were made for warmth.
You can tell it's been a while since we've won anything here in the Queen City, riots confuse me...
After seeing a photo like this you are left with a lot of questions. First of all, what are Habs fans doing talking to that guy when there are plenty of perfectly good cars to set on fire?
Like this one. All it takes is a lighter and the convenient towel you were given at the gate and you can turn that automobile into a symbol of your domination. Yes, show the world that the Montreal Canadiens are one game closer to winning the second of four best-of-seven series. 5/16 of a championship makes me want to break stuff, too.
Still, the larger question still looms: What's up with Lady Lafleur over there on the left? Let's look at that photo again:
What secret identity is she hiding with that mask, and why is there yarn dangling from her neck? Was she knitting a sweater in case the faithful destroyed the power plant, because I thought the police car bonfires were made for warmth.
You can tell it's been a while since we've won anything here in the Queen City, riots confuse me...
Out On the Limbs Where the Fruit Be
Round Two starts tonight, and if you missed hockey yesterday you weren't alone. Just imagine how July is going to feel...
Our picks for this round:
Ryan, First RoundForgettable 9
Habs in 5- Price was the difference last series and will be once again. Briere will hear it from the crowd throughout and will either win one for the hobbitses or crumble. I don't think it will matter either way, with Kaptain Koivu back the Habs will be back to form.
Penguins in 6- I'm more excited about this series than Maggie the Monkey was about the TSN buffet table. Lundqvist is an outstanding goaltender but Fleury is looking like the first overall pick he is supposed to be this spring. My mancrush on Chris Drury tells me he will be a factor, but Malkin and Crosby won't be denied this year. Sean Avery < Jarko Ruutu.
Detroit in 7- Colorado certainly made me look twice in the first round, but I think Detroit may get it together in time to lose in the Conference Finals.
San Jose in 6- It would be in four if they had some decent anthem singers. Sax? Really? C'mon guys, this isn't a recital, it's the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Jon, First Round 12
Habs in 6- I keep going back and forth on this one, but I think the Habs PP will be the difference.
Rangers in 7- As much as I hate him, I can't wait to see what Avery has in store for Crosby and Malkin. The difference in this series will be the goaltending; Look for Lundqvist to give the Rags the edge.
Avs in 6- Theodore has been a man possessed, and the Hasek/Osgood situation may cause a distraction.
Sharks in 5- I know I'm in the minority here, but I really don't see this being much of a series. I don't see the Dallas D containing Thornton, and Nabokov has been the best in the league all year.
Chris, First Round 13
Habs in 6. I want to pick Montreal in 5 but after seeing Boston give them so much trouble, I'll say Philly steals two games.
Pens in 6. The Rangers will keep things interesting because they've got great goaltending and guys up front that know how to win. The long layoff will play a big factor I think, and Pittsburgh will be able to get their legs moving faster with the home crowd behind them early.
Wings in 6. Should be like old times. If Theodore keeps up his play, this might go the distance
Sharks in 7. I like whoever comes out of this series to win the whole thing. Both teams are good enough to beat any of the other teams out there.
Rich, First Round 14
Habs in 5
Pens in 6
Avs in 6
Sharks in 6
The man says very little, but is beating us all. He is also computer-less at the moment, and probably reading this via an iPod Touch. Whatever, man, whatever.
Again, feel free to leave your picks in the comments, even if you didn't play the first go around. We have three people in the last post that are locked in. At the very least you are going to score higher than me...
Our picks for this round:
Ryan, First Round
Habs in 5- Price was the difference last series and will be once again. Briere will hear it from the crowd throughout and will either win one for the hobbitses or crumble. I don't think it will matter either way, with Kaptain Koivu back the Habs will be back to form.
Penguins in 6- I'm more excited about this series than Maggie the Monkey was about the TSN buffet table. Lundqvist is an outstanding goaltender but Fleury is looking like the first overall pick he is supposed to be this spring. My mancrush on Chris Drury tells me he will be a factor, but Malkin and Crosby won't be denied this year. Sean Avery < Jarko Ruutu.
Detroit in 7- Colorado certainly made me look twice in the first round, but I think Detroit may get it together in time to lose in the Conference Finals.
San Jose in 6- It would be in four if they had some decent anthem singers. Sax? Really? C'mon guys, this isn't a recital, it's the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Jon, First Round 12
Habs in 6- I keep going back and forth on this one, but I think the Habs PP will be the difference.
Rangers in 7- As much as I hate him, I can't wait to see what Avery has in store for Crosby and Malkin. The difference in this series will be the goaltending; Look for Lundqvist to give the Rags the edge.
Avs in 6- Theodore has been a man possessed, and the Hasek/Osgood situation may cause a distraction.
Sharks in 5- I know I'm in the minority here, but I really don't see this being much of a series. I don't see the Dallas D containing Thornton, and Nabokov has been the best in the league all year.
Chris, First Round 13
Habs in 6. I want to pick Montreal in 5 but after seeing Boston give them so much trouble, I'll say Philly steals two games.
Pens in 6. The Rangers will keep things interesting because they've got great goaltending and guys up front that know how to win. The long layoff will play a big factor I think, and Pittsburgh will be able to get their legs moving faster with the home crowd behind them early.
Wings in 6. Should be like old times. If Theodore keeps up his play, this might go the distance
Sharks in 7. I like whoever comes out of this series to win the whole thing. Both teams are good enough to beat any of the other teams out there.
Rich, First Round 14
Habs in 5
Pens in 6
Avs in 6
Sharks in 6
The man says very little, but is beating us all. He is also computer-less at the moment, and probably reading this via an iPod Touch. Whatever, man, whatever.
Again, feel free to leave your picks in the comments, even if you didn't play the first go around. We have three people in the last post that are locked in. At the very least you are going to score higher than me...
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
I've Got Nothing
by Ryan
Tonight I've written more than I ever have in my life, but it will not get posted here.
In lieu of actual blog-worthy... stuff this morning, I give you Mike Ryan's shenanigans.
Don't watch it if you dislike muffled curse words.
The transcript:
Ref: You're gone.
Mike: FOR WHAT?!?
Ref: F--kin' around.
In Mike Ryan's defense, at least he wasn't giving him the business...
We'll have picks at the very least up later today. If you won't be around later on, feel free to leave them in the comments...
Tonight I've written more than I ever have in my life, but it will not get posted here.
In lieu of actual blog-worthy... stuff this morning, I give you Mike Ryan's shenanigans.
Don't watch it if you dislike muffled curse words.
The transcript:
Ref: You're gone.
Mike: FOR WHAT?!?
Ref: F--kin' around.
In Mike Ryan's defense, at least he wasn't giving him the business...
We'll have picks at the very least up later today. If you won't be around later on, feel free to leave them in the comments...
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
After Round One
by Ryan
I... I have some 'splainin to do.
Ryan- 9 points, nailed San Jose in 7.
Jon- 12 points, aided by Papal Infallibility.
Rich- 14 points, nailed Dallas, Detriot.
Chris- 13 points, nailed Avs in 6.
Sabresfan88- 12 points, nailed Avs in 6.
Anonymous- 7 points, nailed Pens sweep. (we know who this is...)
Coolman856- 9 points, nailed Stars pick.
If you didn't pick this round, feel free to pick with us in the next. If you want to leave them in the comments of this post, feel free. We'll have another post up with our picks sometime tomorrow. Or Thursday.
Our standings after one:
Rich-14
Chris-13
Sabresfan88-12
Jon-12
Coolman856-9
Ryan-9
Anon-7
I may have the Stress Buffalo pick for me next round. He obviously has more hockey insight than I do...
Nashville in 7? Weak.
I... I have some 'splainin to do.
Ryan- 9 points, nailed San Jose in 7.
Jon- 12 points, aided by Papal Infallibility.
Rich- 14 points, nailed Dallas, Detriot.
Chris- 13 points, nailed Avs in 6.
Sabresfan88- 12 points, nailed Avs in 6.
Anonymous- 7 points, nailed Pens sweep. (we know who this is...)
Coolman856- 9 points, nailed Stars pick.
If you didn't pick this round, feel free to pick with us in the next. If you want to leave them in the comments of this post, feel free. We'll have another post up with our picks sometime tomorrow. Or Thursday.
Our standings after one:
Rich-14
Chris-13
Sabresfan88-12
Jon-12
Coolman856-9
Ryan-9
Anon-7
I may have the Stress Buffalo pick for me next round. He obviously has more hockey insight than I do...
Nashville in 7? Weak.
6+ Hours of Queen and David Bowe
by Ryan
To some it may sound like an obscure form of torture the fine folks at Guantanamo Bay have to endure. For me, it is one of the most exciting days of the year. Starting at 7:00 pm tonight, the hockey world gets put on the edge of its collective seats.
In Washington the great comeback continues, with Alexander Ovechkin leading the way back into the Phone Booth.
The stick may be all white, but tonight will be all about the red.
At 10:00 pm it will be about the red as well, but mostly it will be about San Jose trying to hang on against the Flames.
I would have put a picture of Brian Campbell here, but it seems he hasn't shown up in this series.
Hopefully we will see something special out of one of these games. No matter what, it is an exciting day for fans no matter what allegiance. I've already had my say about Game Seven.
Let's hope the winners take it better then Montreal did last night. After all, it's just Round One.
To some it may sound like an obscure form of torture the fine folks at Guantanamo Bay have to endure. For me, it is one of the most exciting days of the year. Starting at 7:00 pm tonight, the hockey world gets put on the edge of its collective seats.
In Washington the great comeback continues, with Alexander Ovechkin leading the way back into the Phone Booth.
The stick may be all white, but tonight will be all about the red.
At 10:00 pm it will be about the red as well, but mostly it will be about San Jose trying to hang on against the Flames.
I would have put a picture of Brian Campbell here, but it seems he hasn't shown up in this series.
Hopefully we will see something special out of one of these games. No matter what, it is an exciting day for fans no matter what allegiance. I've already had my say about Game Seven.
Let's hope the winners take it better then Montreal did last night. After all, it's just Round One.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Your Vague Posterboard of the Day
by Ryan
Okay, that's clever, a presidential joke about hockey. Considering you are in the place where the country was first founded, that's spot on. He may even just be a big fan of Harry Truman.
However, where exactly is this puck stopping? In front of Biron? That didn't happen last night. What about in the back of the net? That seems a bit obvious, unless you are playing street hockey it's not likely to shoot the back of the net out. (The side of the net is a whole other story...)
Perhaps he is referring to the glass, then? I mean... he is right about that one; the puck will won't fly into the crowd because of the glass. Also, with the use of protective netting behind the rink ends to further shield spectators it would be almost impossible for a puck to get to that very spot.
Maaaaaaaaybe, he's implying that he is some sort of superhuman with the ability to form a shield around both himself and that sign, thereby making it impossible for a puck to get past him no matter what safety precautions fail.
Or, he's just a douchebag who likes to hold up signs that restrict the view of the people behind him. Either way, I'll never be able to tell because of the ambiguity of his message.
The lesson here is that the most important thing about communicating is to give a clear, concise message. Jerk.
Okay, that's clever, a presidential joke about hockey. Considering you are in the place where the country was first founded, that's spot on. He may even just be a big fan of Harry Truman.
However, where exactly is this puck stopping? In front of Biron? That didn't happen last night. What about in the back of the net? That seems a bit obvious, unless you are playing street hockey it's not likely to shoot the back of the net out. (The side of the net is a whole other story...)
Perhaps he is referring to the glass, then? I mean... he is right about that one; the puck will won't fly into the crowd because of the glass. Also, with the use of protective netting behind the rink ends to further shield spectators it would be almost impossible for a puck to get to that very spot.
Maaaaaaaaybe, he's implying that he is some sort of superhuman with the ability to form a shield around both himself and that sign, thereby making it impossible for a puck to get past him no matter what safety precautions fail.
Or, he's just a douchebag who likes to hold up signs that restrict the view of the people behind him. Either way, I'll never be able to tell because of the ambiguity of his message.
The lesson here is that the most important thing about communicating is to give a clear, concise message. Jerk.
Rock the Comeback
Photo: Braydon Coburn embraces Danny Briere, much like a mother places an infant into a shopping cart.
Photo: Alexander Ovechkin being clutch.
Photo: See above caption.
Which player is more clutch? Tomorrow will be your answer.
Broken Hub
by Ryan
Montreal closes the door on the Bruins at home, letting Bill Simmons get on board juuuust long enough to get punched in the stomach. I didn't know about this until the game was over, but thank God Boston lost. Let him go through purgatory with a hockey team before the spoils of war come. Bandwagoner.
(On that note, Happy Patriots Day everyone!)
Carey Price was indeed the difference in this series, making me right about at least one thing in the first round.
Speaking of predictions, the scoring for our first round picks will go as follows: 2 points for picking the team correctly, and a bonus point for picking the right number of games. Once tomorrow's games are over I'll post the results along with picks for the second round. If you didn't get a chance to pick for the first round, feel free to pick the rest of the way, we didn't give much notice for the first round.
If you will, read the Simmons column and tell me if I'm being too hard on the guy. I am glad he is getting back into hockey because it is good to have a national voice interested in the game, but doesn't it feel like a bit of a cop out? If you care that much about a team, can you ever just leave it for dead like that?
Montreal closes the door on the Bruins at home, letting Bill Simmons get on board juuuust long enough to get punched in the stomach. I didn't know about this until the game was over, but thank God Boston lost. Let him go through purgatory with a hockey team before the spoils of war come. Bandwagoner.
(On that note, Happy Patriots Day everyone!)
Carey Price was indeed the difference in this series, making me right about at least one thing in the first round.
Speaking of predictions, the scoring for our first round picks will go as follows: 2 points for picking the team correctly, and a bonus point for picking the right number of games. Once tomorrow's games are over I'll post the results along with picks for the second round. If you didn't get a chance to pick for the first round, feel free to pick the rest of the way, we didn't give much notice for the first round.
If you will, read the Simmons column and tell me if I'm being too hard on the guy. I am glad he is getting back into hockey because it is good to have a national voice interested in the game, but doesn't it feel like a bit of a cop out? If you care that much about a team, can you ever just leave it for dead like that?
Shiver
by Ryan
This video is what the next two days are all about. Even sitting here in postseason-less Western New York, the tense feeling of playoff hockey is in the air. It's palpable, and something that players and fans alike feed off of.
Three series will be decided over the next two days. All three have a little bit of insanity attached to them.
Taking down the favourite.
Surviving the onslaught.
Rising to the occasion for one last trip home.
The next 48 hours are the very best that playoff hockey can offer you. Sixty minutes to justify your very existence. Two teams go head to head knowing that for one it will be the final time they take the ice. Game 7 is the place where heroes are made and anonymity is not an option. The players that just haven't performed so far will be noticeably absent when the final horn sounds. No excuses. No second chances.
How can you not get chills when you watch that?
During the playoffs the marketing gurus for various sports start tossing around catch phrases for the postseason. "Show me something" or "where amazing happens" or whatever. When it comes to Game 7, however, nothing needs to be said.
Get ready to shiver.
This video is what the next two days are all about. Even sitting here in postseason-less Western New York, the tense feeling of playoff hockey is in the air. It's palpable, and something that players and fans alike feed off of.
Three series will be decided over the next two days. All three have a little bit of insanity attached to them.
Taking down the favourite.
Surviving the onslaught.
Rising to the occasion for one last trip home.
The next 48 hours are the very best that playoff hockey can offer you. Sixty minutes to justify your very existence. Two teams go head to head knowing that for one it will be the final time they take the ice. Game 7 is the place where heroes are made and anonymity is not an option. The players that just haven't performed so far will be noticeably absent when the final horn sounds. No excuses. No second chances.
How can you not get chills when you watch that?
During the playoffs the marketing gurus for various sports start tossing around catch phrases for the postseason. "Show me something" or "where amazing happens" or whatever. When it comes to Game 7, however, nothing needs to be said.
Get ready to shiver.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Not So Extinct
by Ryan
It wasn't what Predators fans wanted to see, but today their season ended at home. A lot of people are going to have things to say about this series. The play of Chris Osgood and Dan Ellis will be prominent topics, as will Jason Arnott's celebratory techniques. The search party for J.P. Dumont's game also looks to be busy all summer.
However, what should be taken away from this series is how well Nashville responded to a team in the playoffs. Yes, they have been a fairly successful team over the course of their decade in the league, but it hasn't been until this year that the city really seemed to embrace the prospect of playoff hockey.
This was the storyline last summer, and the franchise has been mixed up in ownership struggles and contract shedding ever since. However, the team that was expected to move north of the border looks to be locked into a city that suddenly loves hockey. Sure, it felt... different watching how that crowd reacted to goals or penalties or pretty much anything, but maybe the team staying in Nashville is for the best. This series could be the springboard for a strong surge in attendance, making Nahsville something more then just a football town.
There are a lot of things critics can throw at Gary Bettman, but the one thing he can be commended on is that his franchises stay put. He worked hard to keep the Sabres in Buffalo, made sure Ottawa was never in jeopardy with their bankruptcy, and did everything he could to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh. With Hartford his only flaw, you really have to hand it to Bettman in his commitment to the cities currently housing NHL teams.
Not every league seems to be so lucky.
It wasn't what Predators fans wanted to see, but today their season ended at home. A lot of people are going to have things to say about this series. The play of Chris Osgood and Dan Ellis will be prominent topics, as will Jason Arnott's celebratory techniques. The search party for J.P. Dumont's game also looks to be busy all summer.
However, what should be taken away from this series is how well Nashville responded to a team in the playoffs. Yes, they have been a fairly successful team over the course of their decade in the league, but it hasn't been until this year that the city really seemed to embrace the prospect of playoff hockey.
This was the storyline last summer, and the franchise has been mixed up in ownership struggles and contract shedding ever since. However, the team that was expected to move north of the border looks to be locked into a city that suddenly loves hockey. Sure, it felt... different watching how that crowd reacted to goals or penalties or pretty much anything, but maybe the team staying in Nashville is for the best. This series could be the springboard for a strong surge in attendance, making Nahsville something more then just a football town.
There are a lot of things critics can throw at Gary Bettman, but the one thing he can be commended on is that his franchises stay put. He worked hard to keep the Sabres in Buffalo, made sure Ottawa was never in jeopardy with their bankruptcy, and did everything he could to keep the Penguins in Pittsburgh. With Hartford his only flaw, you really have to hand it to Bettman in his commitment to the cities currently housing NHL teams.
Not every league seems to be so lucky.
Why I Love the Postseason, Vol II
by Ryan
How intense is this picture?
My first thought was that not many people I know get that excited about a penalty call. My second was that Mike Richards may be the whiniest Flyer I've ever seen. After some thought I remembered that during the playoffs everyone gets that hyped over a penalty, and that Danny Briere is on the Flyers too.
The Caps looked like a completely different team at home today, but the real test will be whether they can overcome a rabid atmosphere in Philly to bring it back to the Phone Booth one more time. Between that Game Six and the little get together in Montreal, it will be one heck of a Monday.
For now my insomniac interests have turned to staring at Jon's terrifying paint incarnation of himself (see below), Aldous Huxley, and the ever important schedule of tomorrow's games. Hopefully I'm awake for Preds/Wings tomorrow.
It shouldn't be a problem. Either way I'll get just as much ice time as Hasek...
How intense is this picture?
My first thought was that not many people I know get that excited about a penalty call. My second was that Mike Richards may be the whiniest Flyer I've ever seen. After some thought I remembered that during the playoffs everyone gets that hyped over a penalty, and that Danny Briere is on the Flyers too.
The Caps looked like a completely different team at home today, but the real test will be whether they can overcome a rabid atmosphere in Philly to bring it back to the Phone Booth one more time. Between that Game Six and the little get together in Montreal, it will be one heck of a Monday.
For now my insomniac interests have turned to staring at Jon's terrifying paint incarnation of himself (see below), Aldous Huxley, and the ever important schedule of tomorrow's games. Hopefully I'm awake for Preds/Wings tomorrow.
It shouldn't be a problem. Either way I'll get just as much ice time as Hasek...
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Blessed
By Jon
As mentioned on the Roost a few days ago, I was lucky enough to score tickets (from the box office, mind you) to Thursday's tilt between the Yankees and Red Sox in the Bronx. Rest assured, a post recounting the day's events will be up in the next few days, but I thought I would post something in honor of Sunday's papal mass at Yankee Stadium.
You guessed it, that handsome devil standing next to his holiness himself is yours truly (a striking resemblance, I must say.)
This guy spent the game wandering around the lower depths of my section, blessing people and ordering the occasional Foster's (Ecclesiastical Latin for beer, apparently.) I felt a picture was necessary. I painted over the face only because I don't know what the official Roost policy is regarding posting pictures of ourselves, and it's far too late to ask my companions what they think (Who am I kidding? Ryan never sleeps.)
As mentioned on the Roost a few days ago, I was lucky enough to score tickets (from the box office, mind you) to Thursday's tilt between the Yankees and Red Sox in the Bronx. Rest assured, a post recounting the day's events will be up in the next few days, but I thought I would post something in honor of Sunday's papal mass at Yankee Stadium.
You guessed it, that handsome devil standing next to his holiness himself is yours truly (a striking resemblance, I must say.)
This guy spent the game wandering around the lower depths of my section, blessing people and ordering the occasional Foster's (Ecclesiastical Latin for beer, apparently.) I felt a picture was necessary. I painted over the face only because I don't know what the official Roost policy is regarding posting pictures of ourselves, and it's far too late to ask my companions what they think (Who am I kidding? Ryan never sleeps.)
Friday, April 18, 2008
Filling that Empty Net
by Ryan
Unless Ryan Miller is horribly maimed by Maxim Girls because of his blogging, we will have a starting goaltender next year. God willing, he will be a goaltender that doesn't have to play every night while slowly breaking down, losing focus and intensity while battling the pressures of contract talks and a possible trade at the deadline so management can save face.
Ahem.
Insiders (read: everyone) say that Jocelyn Thibault will not be back next season. The good news is that we don't have to pay a half million dollars for an empty net next year, but the bad news is that we are obligated to fill that roster spot, so no hot tub in Sabretooth's House next year. (Don't worry Goose, Quinn would have made sure it was Energy Star compliant...)
That means that unless Bradley Eidsness doesn't want to play for the Sioux next season we will need a backup goaltender. Now I know what you're thinking: another chance to fail in free agency. While the prospect of overpaying for an over the hill has been is quite thrilling, there is another option.
Ray Emery.
Hear me out now. He obviously won't be playing in Ottawa next year, so what better way to heat up the rivalry then by having a former rebound machine manning the far door on the other team's bench? Mark Bellhorn thinks this would be downright diabolical.
Mirtle M.D has a solid post about the situation, and very clearly states the Sabres are a likely option for Emery, as well as highlights the upcoming UFA goaltender class. Do you see anyone on there that is a better option at this point? I doubt Conklin will come back for pennies based on the run he had earlier this year in Pittsburgh.
When you dig deep, Emery does have some redeeming qualities. He is at the very least interesting, and may or may not wear women's shoes. That's gotta be good for something, right? The guy has Mike Tyson on his mask, so you know he's willing to fight for this team. Or with this team. Or with this management. Whatever.
The fact of the matter is this: we have a need, and he needs a team. I think we should give him a serious look over the summer if things don't go so great with Captain Eyebrows. The least we can do is give him the benefit of the doubt, I'd imagine he would reciprocate.
"I'm not a big fan of Buffalo. There's not a lot to do on days off."
Sounds perfect to me.
Unless Ryan Miller is horribly maimed by Maxim Girls because of his blogging, we will have a starting goaltender next year. God willing, he will be a goaltender that doesn't have to play every night while slowly breaking down, losing focus and intensity while battling the pressures of contract talks and a possible trade at the deadline so management can save face.
Ahem.
Insiders (read: everyone) say that Jocelyn Thibault will not be back next season. The good news is that we don't have to pay a half million dollars for an empty net next year, but the bad news is that we are obligated to fill that roster spot, so no hot tub in Sabretooth's House next year. (Don't worry Goose, Quinn would have made sure it was Energy Star compliant...)
That means that unless Bradley Eidsness doesn't want to play for the Sioux next season we will need a backup goaltender. Now I know what you're thinking: another chance to fail in free agency. While the prospect of overpaying for an over the hill has been is quite thrilling, there is another option.
Ray Emery.
Hear me out now. He obviously won't be playing in Ottawa next year, so what better way to heat up the rivalry then by having a former rebound machine manning the far door on the other team's bench? Mark Bellhorn thinks this would be downright diabolical.
Mirtle M.D has a solid post about the situation, and very clearly states the Sabres are a likely option for Emery, as well as highlights the upcoming UFA goaltender class. Do you see anyone on there that is a better option at this point? I doubt Conklin will come back for pennies based on the run he had earlier this year in Pittsburgh.
When you dig deep, Emery does have some redeeming qualities. He is at the very least interesting, and may or may not wear women's shoes. That's gotta be good for something, right? The guy has Mike Tyson on his mask, so you know he's willing to fight for this team. Or with this team. Or with this management. Whatever.
The fact of the matter is this: we have a need, and he needs a team. I think we should give him a serious look over the summer if things don't go so great with Captain Eyebrows. The least we can do is give him the benefit of the doubt, I'd imagine he would reciprocate.
"I'm not a big fan of Buffalo. There's not a lot to do on days off."
Sounds perfect to me.
MLB.com: Your Source for Sabres Gear
by Ryan
You may not be able to cite Wikipedia, and good luck finding quality research documents on Google, but sometimes you really can learn from the Internet. Today's example: New Era Cap Company.
The circumstances were simple: I searched Google for, well, I'll get to that later. Anyway, one of the results looked a bit... odd. See for yourself.
Yes, they actually make these. The strange thing about it is not that it's still $20 (Sabres store had them on clearance months ago...), but the fact that MLB.com just may be the only place left to buy it. I guess New Era is allowed to sell all of their stuff via the MLB's website. Strange.
You may not be able to cite Wikipedia, and good luck finding quality research documents on Google, but sometimes you really can learn from the Internet. Today's example: New Era Cap Company.
The circumstances were simple: I searched Google for, well, I'll get to that later. Anyway, one of the results looked a bit... odd. See for yourself.
Yes, they actually make these. The strange thing about it is not that it's still $20 (Sabres store had them on clearance months ago...), but the fact that MLB.com just may be the only place left to buy it. I guess New Era is allowed to sell all of their stuff via the MLB's website. Strange.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Step One: Identify the Problem
by Ryan
I missed pretty much everything tonight. Jon went to see the Yankees play the Sox at the Stadium, and I worked all night. I missed five games and really have nothing to say about any of them, which really bothers me. Something has been left unsaid about last night, though, so here it goes.
What is it about this photo that is so ridiculously enjoyable? I've been thinking about it all day, and I'm pretty sure the best part of that shot is that we know exactly how it feels.
--
Don't you absolutely f--king hate that Chrysler commercial? You know the one, with the bridge from "Better Days" playing while nice looking cars roll by on pristine city streets? As a Sabres fan, hasn't that song been murdered by the results of last season? For me that Goo Goo Dolls' song brings up an emotion I'm still not sure how to handle, and I really don't need to have that stirred up while I'm watching playoff hockey.
Not being in the playoffs sucks, there is no other way to put it. We missed the majority of the blogger playoff party last year and this year we never had the chance. I get insanely jealous reading sites with teams in the postseason, and I can't help but envy the excitement that is generated in a hockey rink this time of year. (God I miss those crowds...)
Still, it seems that my enjoyment of the playoffs thus far has been focused on the failure of other teams. What made the collapse of the Senators fantastic was that they had such great expectations and fell so far short of them. After last year's Finals appearance and their subsequent start to this season there was no question this team would do great things. There were talks of record high point totals and "best ever" tags were thrown around.
Before you know it, Brian Murray is behind the bench again and guys like Cody Bass and Brian Lee are letting Rutuu score soft goals in must win games. Seriously, does anyone know what happened to this team?
If the last two paragraphs seem a bit familiar, well, welcome to Sabres hockey. I still haven't found the proper words for how far this team has regressed in the span of a calender year, and it sure feels like fans in Ottawa will be doing the same thing over the summer.
The sick thing about all this is that I love it.
There is something about watching a team die the slow, familiar death of underachiving that just fills my heart with joy. Because the pain of an early exit is still so fresh, I want anyone even close to that position suffer along with us. Somehow knowing we are not alone in failure makes me feel slightly better about how things shook out. As awful as it sounds, watching good teams lose is just fun.
The other side of the coin is that we get to root for the "underdog", one of the most fun aspects of fandom. Watching that crowd go bezerk in Calgary or the two games in Nashville this week are what being a sports fan is all about. Put aside personal vendettas and rivalries, watching people get excited about the game really is an uplifting experience.
That picture is what hockey is all about. Forget the contrived gesture the Rangers pull after every game, a spontaneous thank you between a crowd and team that everyone left for dead over the summer is something truly remarkable. No matter what happens tomorrow for Game Five, the Predators have fed off that crowd and proved that maybe hockey can work in Nashville after all.
I guess my point is that I'm sick of rooting against teams I don't like and players I want to forget. I want to root for teams. Nashville, Pittsburgh, Calgary, even Washington. I want to see these teams do well for their own good, not for the malcontent I have for their opponent.
Still, it's hard to forget the feeling of leaving that arena in silence last year. That feeling has burrowed deep into my skull and makes me want to set the world on fire at times. That part of my brain longs for Schadenfreude and snarky comments about former captains. This spring I'm trying hard to forget that part of my brain.
I can't make any promises.
I missed pretty much everything tonight. Jon went to see the Yankees play the Sox at the Stadium, and I worked all night. I missed five games and really have nothing to say about any of them, which really bothers me. Something has been left unsaid about last night, though, so here it goes.
What is it about this photo that is so ridiculously enjoyable? I've been thinking about it all day, and I'm pretty sure the best part of that shot is that we know exactly how it feels.
--
Don't you absolutely f--king hate that Chrysler commercial? You know the one, with the bridge from "Better Days" playing while nice looking cars roll by on pristine city streets? As a Sabres fan, hasn't that song been murdered by the results of last season? For me that Goo Goo Dolls' song brings up an emotion I'm still not sure how to handle, and I really don't need to have that stirred up while I'm watching playoff hockey.
Not being in the playoffs sucks, there is no other way to put it. We missed the majority of the blogger playoff party last year and this year we never had the chance. I get insanely jealous reading sites with teams in the postseason, and I can't help but envy the excitement that is generated in a hockey rink this time of year. (God I miss those crowds...)
Still, it seems that my enjoyment of the playoffs thus far has been focused on the failure of other teams. What made the collapse of the Senators fantastic was that they had such great expectations and fell so far short of them. After last year's Finals appearance and their subsequent start to this season there was no question this team would do great things. There were talks of record high point totals and "best ever" tags were thrown around.
Before you know it, Brian Murray is behind the bench again and guys like Cody Bass and Brian Lee are letting Rutuu score soft goals in must win games. Seriously, does anyone know what happened to this team?
If the last two paragraphs seem a bit familiar, well, welcome to Sabres hockey. I still haven't found the proper words for how far this team has regressed in the span of a calender year, and it sure feels like fans in Ottawa will be doing the same thing over the summer.
The sick thing about all this is that I love it.
There is something about watching a team die the slow, familiar death of underachiving that just fills my heart with joy. Because the pain of an early exit is still so fresh, I want anyone even close to that position suffer along with us. Somehow knowing we are not alone in failure makes me feel slightly better about how things shook out. As awful as it sounds, watching good teams lose is just fun.
The other side of the coin is that we get to root for the "underdog", one of the most fun aspects of fandom. Watching that crowd go bezerk in Calgary or the two games in Nashville this week are what being a sports fan is all about. Put aside personal vendettas and rivalries, watching people get excited about the game really is an uplifting experience.
That picture is what hockey is all about. Forget the contrived gesture the Rangers pull after every game, a spontaneous thank you between a crowd and team that everyone left for dead over the summer is something truly remarkable. No matter what happens tomorrow for Game Five, the Predators have fed off that crowd and proved that maybe hockey can work in Nashville after all.
I guess my point is that I'm sick of rooting against teams I don't like and players I want to forget. I want to root for teams. Nashville, Pittsburgh, Calgary, even Washington. I want to see these teams do well for their own good, not for the malcontent I have for their opponent.
Still, it's hard to forget the feeling of leaving that arena in silence last year. That feeling has burrowed deep into my skull and makes me want to set the world on fire at times. That part of my brain longs for Schadenfreude and snarky comments about former captains. This spring I'm trying hard to forget that part of my brain.
I can't make any promises.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
How Do You Deal With Failure?
by Ryan
Face the media depressed but like a man, or
Attempt to eat your own face?
Face the media depressed but like a man, or
Attempt to eat your own face?
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